Means for securely connecting the meeting ends of two railway-rails.



M. D. KINSMAN.

MEANS FOR SEGURELY CONNECTING THE MEETING ENDS OF TWO RAILWAY RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1913.

1,098,267. v Patented May 26, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED .IULY'B, 1913.

Patented May 26,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IE g 14 1 n s'rnrns re MERE-IT D. KINSMAN, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR SECURELY CONNECTING THE MEETING ENDS OF TvVO RAILWAY-RAILS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, llllERRIT D. KINSMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Securely Connecting the Meeting Ends of Two Bailway-Rails, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in means for securely connect-ing the meeting ends of two railway rails, and the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustration the accompanying drawings illustrate a satisfactory reduction of my improvement to practice, but the nature of the invention necessarily renders the same susceptible of changes in size,'proportion, etc., all of which, however fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of two rails connected in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view on the line iof Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base plate, Fig. 6 is a similar view of the angle bar locking plate, Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2, Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of aportion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invent-ion in practice, I provide a substantially rectangular shaped base plate 1 which is centrally formed with a longitudinally extending enlargement'2, the said enlargement being of a width equaling the width of the base flanges of the rails R, and upon which the said rails are adapted to rest. The rail support-ing mem her 2, while preferably formed with the base plate 1, may comprise a separable element and be secured to the base 1 in any desired or preferred manner, and so the said member 2 may be constructed-of such material as will form a cushion for the rails. The longitudinal edges of the rail-receiving portion 2 of the base 1 are undercut, or beveled inwardly, as at 3, to the upper face of the base, the incut portions thus providing angular flanges which overlie the base 1.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1918.

Patented May as, ten.

Serial No. 777,006.

The base receiving portion 2 is formed, at spaced intervals, with transversely arranged slots or grooves at, which are adapted to receive suitable cleats or keys 5, the cleats corresponding in length with the width of the upper flat face of the portion 2 of the plate 1. These cleats or keys may be, and preferably are, formed of some suitable material which will add to the cushioning effect of the structure, and it will be noted that the straight ends of each of the cleats provide the passages formed by the flanges 3 with interrupted portions or lugs, which may be designated by the numerals 6. The base plate 1 has one of its longitudinal edges formed with an enlarged portion 7, the upper face of which being arranged in a plane with the upper horizontally straight face of the portion 2 of the said plate 1, and the inner edge of the said member 7 is undercut or beveled outwardly, as indicated by the numeral 9. so that the passage 11 between the flanged outer longitudinal edge of the portion 2 and the oppositely disposed beveled edge of the portion 7 hasits side walls dove-tailed. The member 7 at spaced intervals, is provided with spike-receiving openings 12 which are formed upon the edge provided by the flanged wall 9 and which also pass through the plate 1. The flat reduced portion 8 arranged upon the opposite side of the plate to that of the passage 11, is provided adjacent its longitudinal edge with substantially L-shaped slots 13, the said slots being preferably arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the plate, and

the purpose of these slots will be presently described. The portion 8 is further centrally provided with a substantially rectangular depression 14, and the said portion 8 is provided with spike receiving openings 10.

When the rails R are arranged upon the portion 2 of the base plate 1, angle fish plates 15 and 16 respectively are provided for the opposite sides of the rail. These fish plates have their inner faces constructed to fully fill the fishing spaces of the rails, and their lower edges are formed with longitudinally extending depending portions 17 which have their longitudinal edges flanged outwardly in opposite directions, as indicated by the numerals 18 and 19, so the said portions 18 and 19 provide clove-tailed members which are adapted to be received within the passage 11 and to be engaged by the overlying flanges or dove-tailed side walls 3. The beveled or flanged portions 19, which are arranged upon the inner faces of angular fish plates 15 and 16, are suitably notched, as at 20, the said notches adapted to receive the shoulders or lugs 6 provided upon the ends of the keys or cleats 5, and the outer flanges 18 are provided with openings which are adapted to register with the openings 12 and 10 and passing through opening 10 and the notches in the flange 18 are spikes 21., whereby the fish plates and base flanges are secured upon the supporting ties T. The vertical portions 22 of each of the angle fish plates 15 and 16 have their inner faces formed with pockets 23 which register with each other and with the bolt-receiving openings in the webs of the rails R, and passing through the bolt openings and received within the pockets 23 are locking pins 24. These pins, may if desired, be integrally formed with the said vertical iii-embers 22 of the fish plates 15 and 16.

In order to secure the outer flange 18 of the angular fish plate 16 to the tie 1, I provide a locking plate 25. This locking plate has its inner longitudinal edge flanged, as at 26, to overlie the flange 18 of the angle fish plate 16, and the underface of the locking plate 25 is provided with angular lugs 27 which are adapted to be received within the elongated openings of the L-shaped or keyhole slots 13 and to have their reduced portions arranged to register with the longitudinal portions of the said slots and to be slid into engagement between the walls provided by the said reduced portions. Pivotally mounted within a suitable recess or pocket arranged centrally of the locking plate 25, is a spring pressed locking dog 28 which, when the locking plate is properly positioned upon the plate 1, will automatically spring into engagement with the opening 14, thus securely retaining the locking plate upon the base plate 1. The looking dog, it will be noted, comprises a substantially rectangular member and its pivot or trunnion is arranged at one of its ends, the spring 29 at the other end. The pivot 30 may be secured to the dog and may, if desired, project either beyond the longitudinal edge of the lock plate 25, or may have its free end received within a suitable depression or pocket provided in the outer longitudinal edge of the said lock plate. The said end is rectangular in cross section, as indicated by the numeral 31 so that the key may engage therewith, and swing the dog against the pressure of the spring out of the depression let to permit 01 the locking plate being removed from the base plate 1, and as a consequence, permit of the disassembling of the parts providing the rail joint. The longitudinal edge of the flange 26 of the locking plate 25 may be also provided with notches which are adapted to register with similar notches in the outer flanged edge of the angular fish plate 16 and being adapted for the reception of suitable securing spikes, whereby the elements upon this side of the plate as well as the plate itself are securely connected to the supporting ties T.

In assembling the device, the plate 15 is slid longitudinally of the plate 1 within the passage provided by the undercut walls 3 and 9, the dove-tailed portions 18 and 19 engaging with the said undercut walls. hen the notches 20 register with the grooves &, the keys 5 are inserted over the rail receiving portion 2 into the registering grooves and notches. The rails are then arranged upon the rail receiving or cushion member 2, and one of their faces engaging with the inner face of the plate 15. The plate 16 is then applied to the opposite sides of the rail, the notches in its dove-tailed portion 19 engaging with the project-ing ends of the keys, after which the lock plate 25 is positioned upon the plate 1 in a manner as heretofore described.

Vith a device constructed as above described, it will be noted that when the plate 25 is applied to the plate 1, the said plate 1, at the opposite sides of the enlarged rail supporting member 2 both provides channels wherein the angular fish plates may be arranged, and from the above description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will also be noted that the simplicity and advantages of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which such inventions appertain without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a rail joint, two rail ends, a base plate, a rail receiving cushion upon the plate, said cushion having its longitudinal edges undercut, the base having one of its longitudinal edges provided with a enlargement, the inner wall of which being also undercut, a separable member removably connected adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of the base plate and having its inner edge also undercut. angle fish plates having dove-tailed lower walls adapted to be received within the channels provided between the end members and the rail receiving cushion, and means arranged between the cushion and the inner dove-tailed portions of the fish plates for securing the fish plates upon the base plate.

2. In a rail joint, a base plate, a central cushion member upon the base plate and upon which the meeting ends of two rails rest, the said cushion member having transverse grooves and having their longitudinal edges undercut, one of the longitudinal edges of the base plate having an enlarged portion, the inner edge of which being undercut, a removable plate having an inner undercut edge removably secured to the opposite longitudinal edge of the base plate, angle fish plates having their base portions provided with dove-tailed extensions adapted to be arranged within the passages provided by the longitudinal edge members and the cushion and to have their dove-tailed portions engage with the undercut walls of the said end and cushion member, the inner dovetailed portions of the fish plates having notches which are adapted to register with the grooves in the cushion member, and key members arranged within the said grooves and adapted to be received within the notches of the fish plates.

3. In combination with two rails and supporting ties, of a joint for the ends of the rail, said joint including a base plate arranged upon the ties, the said plate having a central cushion member upon which the rails rest, the plate being formed at one of its longitudinal edges with an enlargement and being provided adjacent its opposite longitudinal edge with a removable plate, means for securing the last mentioned plate to the base plate, the enlargement of the base plate and the removable plate providing channels upon the base plate between the said enlargement and removable plate and the rail receiving cushion member, angular fish plates having their lower portions received within the passages, means arranged upon the cushion member and co-acting with the fish plates for preventing the fish plates from ongitudinal movement, and means comprising spikes for entering the ties and which engage with the fish plate and with the base plate for securing the base plate and fish plates upon the tie.

4. The combination with two rails, ties for the rails, and a base plate upon the ties to receive the rails, said plate being centrally formed with an elevated portion upon which the rails rest, one of the sides of said plate being elevated and having its inner edge undercut, the opposite longitudinal edge of the elevated supporting portion of the plate being undercut inwardly, the said supporting portion having its undercut sides provided with lugs, angular fish plates engaging with the opposite sides of the rails and having their lower portions provided with oppositely arranged flanges to engage with the recessed edges of the rail supporting member and the inner edge of the elevated end member, the inner flanges of the fish plates being notched to receive the lugs of the rail supporting member, means arranged between the webs of the rails and the vertical members of the fish plates, and dis posed interiorly of the fish plates, and connecting the fish plates with the rails, a lock plate for the free edge of one of the fish plates, means arranged upon the lock plate and cooperating with the base plate for securing the lock plate upon the base plate and into engagementwith the lower edge of the angular fish plate, and said means including a spring pressed dog carried by the lock plate and engaging within a depression in the base plate, and means, comprising spikes, for securing the locking plate, fish plates, and base plate to the ties. v

5. The combination with two rails, ties for the rails, and a base plate upon the ties to receive the rails, said plate being centrally formed with an elevated portion upon which the rails rest, one of the sides of the said plate being elevated and having its inner edge undercut, the opposite longitudinal edges of the elevated supporting portion of the base plate being undercut inwardly, the said supporting portion having its undercut sides provided with lugs, angular fish plates engaging with the opposite sides of the rails and having their lower portions provided with oppositely arranged flanges to engage with the undercut edges of the rail supporting member and the inner edge of the elevated side member, the inner flanges of the fish plates being notched to receive the lugs of the rail supporting member, means arranged between the webs of the rails and the vertical members of the fish plates and disposed interiorly of the said fish plates for connecting the fish plates with the rails, the base plate being provided adjacent its longitudinal edge opposite to that provided with the elevated member, with bayonet slots, a lock plate having L-shaped lugs adapted to enter the slots and to be brought into engagement with the outer flanged edge of the angular plate upon this side of the joint, said lock plate having a spring pressed dog adapted to be received within a depression in the base plate when the locking plate is brought into engaging position with the fish plate, and means for securing the locking plate, angle bars and base plate to the ties.

6. The combination with two rails, ties for the rails, and a base plate upon the ties to receive the rails, said plate being centrally formed with an elevated portion upon which the rails rest, one of the sides of the said plate being elevated and having its inner edge undercut, the opposite longitudinal edge of the elevated supporting portion of the base plate being undercut nwardly, the said supporting portion having its undercut sides provided with lugs, angular fish plates engaging with the opposite sides of the rails and having their lower portions provided with oppositely arranged flanges to engage with the recessed edges of the rail supporting member and the inner edge of the elevated end member, the inner flanges of the fish plates being notched to receive the lugs of the rail supporting member, means arranged between the Webs of the rails and the vertical members of the fish plates and disposed interiorly of the said fish plates for connecting the fish plates with the rails, the base plate being provided adjacent its longitudinal edge opposite to that provided With the undercut member,

with bayonet slots, a lock plate having L- shaped lugs adapted to enter the slots and l to be brought into engagement With the outer flanged edge of the angular plate upon this side of the joint, said lock plate having a spring pressed dog adapted to be received 3 J. B. COOPER, JAS. F. CASEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner. of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

